2016 ANZ Championship Semi-Finals Preview

Thursday 21 July, 2016

2016 ANZ Championship Semi-Finals Preview

Conference Finals Fixtures:
The Coffee Club Queensland Firebirds v Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel
Sunday 24 July, 12pm (local time)
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane

Cold Power Magic v NSW Swifts
Monday 25 July, 7.30pm (local time)
Claudelands Arena, Hamilton

Game Talking Points:

The Coffee Club Queensland Firebirds v Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel
Sunday 24 July, 12pm (local time)
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane
Broadcast: Live on SKY Sport 4 (NZ), Fox Sports 3 (AUS), ONE HD delay Monday 25 July

Media Contacts:
Firebirds: Alex Fynes Clinton
M: +61 439 779 069
E: media@netballq.org.au

Steel: Kate Buchanan
M: +64 21 292 1660
E: Kate.Buchanan@netballsouth.co.nz

Umpires: Michelle Phippard (AUS) and Kristie Simpson (NZL)
Reserve: Helen George (AUS)

Head to Head
Firebirds Steel
Games Played 9 9
Win / Loss 7/2 2/7
Highest Score 68 (Round 1, 2013) 66 (Round 11, 2016)
Lowest Score 50 (Round 14, 2008) 36 (Round 4, 2011)

LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 11, 2016: Steel 66 def Firebirds 51 (Dunedin)

• The Firebirds and Steel have met in Brisbane on four occasions since the start of the ANZ Championship and the Firebirds have won all four.

• The Firebirds are contesting their fifth ANZ Championship Final Series after appearances in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The Firebirds are two-time ANZ Championship winners, 2011 & 2015.

• The Firebirds will host the ANZ Championship Grand Final if they can defeat the Steel.

• The Steel can still host the ANZ Championship Grand Final if they can defeat the Firebirds and the Swifts beat the Magic.

• The Firebirds have never lost an ANZ Championship finals match at home.

• The Steel is yet to win an ANZ Championship finals match after four attempts.

Cold Power Magic v NSW Swifts
Monday 25 July, 7.30pm (local time)
Claudelands Arena, Hamilton
Broadcast: Live on SKY Sport 1 (NZ), Fox Sports 4 (AUS), ONE HD delay Tuesday 26 July

Swifts: Victoria Bain
M: +61 449 903 405
E: vbain@netballnsw.com

Umpires: Jono Bredin (NZL) and Josh Bowring (AUS)
Reserve: Angela Armstrong-Lush (AUS)

Head to Head
Magic Swifts
Games Played 14 14
Win / Loss 4/10 10/4
Highest Score 63 (Round 3, 2009) 78 (Round 2, 2016)
Lowest Score 43 (Round 2, 2015) 35 (Round 2, 2013)

LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 2, 2016: Swifts 78 def Magic 50 (Sydney)

• The Swifts have won the past three meetings between the sides.

• The Swifts are coming off a 52-63 loss to the Firebirds in the Australian Conference Final.

• The Magic’s New Zealand Conference Final win over the Steel was their 21st ANZ Championship finals match and they have a 52% win record.

• The Magic is the only ANZ Championship team to have played in all nine ANZ Championship Final Series.

• The Magic has won eight of their past 10 matches since Round 7. The Magic’s only losses were against the Steel and Firebirds.

• Swifts defender Sharni Layton will play her 100th ANZ Championship match in the Semi-Final.

ends

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